At 4 years old I had no concept of “beauty”. All I knew is that I was intrigued by the way I looked, enjoyed exploring the world around me, then discovering how what exists in the world would look or feel on me.
At 14 I thought I was beautiful because I had mascara on.
At 21 I thought I was beautiful because of my smile and long legs.
At 25 I thought I was beautiful because of my decision to choose to embrace and express my unique style in different ways.
At 30 I knew I was beautiful because I just am. Everything about me is beautiful, starting with my character and encompassing all that I am.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “beauty” can be defined in a variety of ways.
Let’s examine a few:
Merriam-Webster 1. Beauty is the quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or the mind.
4 year old me, found life to be beautiful in every interaction with it. Life brought so much pleasure to her senses and mind that she was in constant awe and astonishment. She constantly searched for the beauty around her and immersed herself in it. Resulting in life always being full of surprises and adventure.
Only a few years later at age 14, new discoveries I made in the world prompted me to create a beauty I believed was not there. I discovered cosmetic products and believed they created my beauty through the transformation they offered.
Merriam-Webster 3. Beauty is an excellent or appealing quality.
Later, 21 year old me, turned her attention back to herself and discovered various forms of the natural physical beauty she possessed. Finding and acknowledging the beauty in her smile and the length of her legs she developed more confidence and truer love for herself.
A few years later, 30 year old me recognized her beauty was not limited to her physical appearance, it’s more than that. Her openness to new ideas, her patience, and her understanding toward others, even the way she smiles at people demonstrated the beauty within her.
She practiced empathy and self-love, regularly expressing gratitude. By identifying her needs through consistent self-reflection, she made significant improvements to her confidence. Now, she is resilient and feels more accomplished in various areas of her life. This love for herself and for life radiates the true beauty within her.
My definition of beauty
Today, I define beauty as my willingness to accept the world and everything in it, extract the good, and create more with it. This is the beauty that has shaped who I am and continues to guide me. What’s yours?
Self-love is always a good idea.